Vanessa Preston
President
Vanessa Preston, President at Grant Associates, is an innovative workforce development leader. With a focus on empowering individuals and communities, Vanessa excels in creating and implementing effective strategies that enhance workforce skills and opportunities. Her expertise in program management and her commitment to fostering partnerships have been instrumental in helping clients achieve their career goals and in driving the overall success of the organization’s initiatives. Vanessa’s passion for workforce development and her ability to connect with diverse stakeholders make her a key contributor to Grant Associates’ mission of enabling better lives through workforce development, business insights, and bold ideas. Vanessa Preston currently oversees the Workforce Solutions Borderplex program in El Paso, TX, and the TANF Job Placement and Educational & Occupational Training programs in Washington, DC. Vanessa joined Grant Associates in 2009 as part of the Workforce1 Industrial and Transportation Center’s Career Services department. She launched and led programs in Washington, D.C. Harlem, NY, and Houston TX. She has provided consulting to workforce boards, state organizations, and community colleges. Previously, she held training and development positions in a national restaurant chain. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Queens College.